Link: Why do Waymos keep loitering in front of my house?

Morgan excitedly observes a Waymo robotaxi frequently parking in front of her West Los Angeles home, a behavior the vehicles have consistently exhibited. Morgan's parents, intrigued by this pattern, document that various Waymo cars choose the same specific spots near their home.

Local residents, including those in a nearby Pico/Fairfax neighborhood, express mixed feelings about Waymos occupying street parking space regularly. They speculate reasons for the vehicles' preferred spots might include proximity to high-traffic areas or minimal parking restrictions.

Waymo states that its autonomous vehicles decide on parking locations based on local regulations, area demand, and how long they intend to remain parked. This operational strategy is designed to optimize ride availability, reduce congestion, and conserve energy.

However, the exact science behind Waymo's repeat parking behavior remains unclear even to company insiders. The vehicle's AI might be operating on machine learning principles, making it challenging to pinpoint why specific spots are chosen repetitively.

Community reactions vary, with some people feeling uneasy about the surveillance capabilities of the idling vehicles, while others simply find them a minor nuisance. Waymo has responded to complaints by sometimes marking spots as no-parking zones upon request.

Despite some local discontent, Waymo continues to work on balancing community relations with its operational needs, adapting its parking strategy as necessary. The phenomenon of Waymos frequently resting in particular locales highlights evolving interactions between autonomous vehicles and urban environments.

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